Bolstered mattress

ABSTRACT

A medical bed having a frame with a mattress support surface. A mattress having a central portion, which has an upper surface adapted to support a patient&#39;s body, and a lower surface to interface with the support surface of the frame. The mattress has a right and a left side bolster disposed on opposite sides of the central portion, each bolster extending above the upper surface. Each bolster defines a recess of reduced bolster height in relation to the upper surface of the central portion of the mattress. The mattress has a mattress cover extending about the central portion and both bolsters, such that the mattress and cover together form a single mattress assembly.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to beds, such as hospital or medical/surgicalbeds, and mattresses for such beds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hospital beds or medical/surgical beds are used by patients during ahospital stay, and are also employed for in-home care. A typicalhospital bed has a bed frame and a mattress positioned upon the bedframe. The bed frame usually has bilateral side rails positioned on theupper and lower portion of the bed frame that are designed to keepmentally or physically impaired patients from accidentally rolling offof the bed and falling on the floor, possibly resulting in an injury tothe patients. The side rails can be positioned in an up position, wherethey block patients from rolling off the bed, or positioned in a downposition that allows patients freedom to enter or exit the mattressarranged upon the bed frame.

Unfortunately, the design of the hospital bed does not prevent and, infact, contributes to other injuries to a certain group of patients, forexample patients with pre-existing conditions such as altered mentalstatus (organic or acquired), confusion, restlessness, or lack of musclecontrol.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, a medical bed has a frame with a mattress support surfaceand a mattress supported on the support surface. In another aspect, amattress is designed for use in conjunction with a medical/surgical bedframe, which has a surface for receiving the mattress. The mattress hasa central portion with an upper surface adapted to support a patient'sbody and a lower surface that interfaces with the support or receivingsurface of the frame. The mattress has a right and left side bolsterdisposed on opposite sides of the central portion, such that eachbolster extends above the upper surface. Each bolster defines a recessof reduced bolster height in relation to the upper surface of thecentral portion of the mattress. A mattress cover extends about thecentral portion and both bolsters such that the mattress and the covertogether form a single mattress assembly.

One or more of the following features may also be included. A side railmounted on the frame and a control panel mounted on the side rail. Insome embodiments, the recess is positioned to enable the patient toaccess the control panel. In other embodiments, the recess can be sizedand positioned to enable the patient ingress and egress to and from theupper surface. The central portion and the bolsters are formed of foam.The left and right bolsters have upper surfaces flush with the uppersurface of the central portion at the recesses. The central portionincludes a head section, a body section, a foot section, and a topsection, which covers the head, body and foot sections. The foot sectionhas a thickness that decreases with distance from the body section. Thefoam for each section has a shape, a density and an indentation loaddeflection (ILD) selected to inhibit formation of pressure sores on theskin of the patient. (A piece of foam can be described in terms of itsdensity and it's ILD. The density of the foam is the mass per unit ofvolume, typically pounds per cubic foot of foam. The ILD refers to theamount of force, in pounds, required to compress or indent, using a 50inch disc, a piece of foam measuring 15 in. wide, 15 in. long, and 4 in.high to 75% of its unloaded thickness (or height), and is an indicationof firmness). The foam for each bolster has a shape, a density, and anILD selected to provide a passive reminder to the patient of a lateraledge of the mattress, for example the density of the foam bolster can be1.8 PCF and the ILD can be 50.

These general and specific aspects may be implemented using a system, amethod, or a combination thereof.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth inthe accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features,objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedescription and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a raised foam perimeter mattress on a hospital bed framewith a cutout section of the raised foam perimeter aligning with thecenter of the bed between upper and lower side rails;

FIG. 2 shows the raised foam perimeter mattress on the hospital bedframe with the cutout section aligning with a control panel on an upperside rail of the bed frame;

FIG. 3 is a view of the raised foam perimeter mattress being positionedon a hospital bed frame, showing the surface that the mattress restsupon;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of components of the raised foam perimetermattress;

FIG. 5 is a view of the mattress components assembled and a cover aboutthe mattress components in the process securing a top cover to a bottomcover by using a zipper;

FIG. 6A is an end view of a side bolster angularly tapering from aplanar surface of the mattress;

FIG. 6B is an end view of a side bolster radially tapering form a planarsurface of the mattress.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1-3, a hospital bed 10, which can be used in themedical, surgical, psychiatric, and extended care setting, is shown.Typically, the bed 10 has a frame 12, with one or more side rails 13(usually four side rails), and a mattress 11. One or more of the siderails 13 can have controls on the side rail for controlling such thingsas a television, or the bed itself, i.e. adjusting the bed height, orraising or lowering the head or foot of the bed, etc. The side rails 13can be positioned in at least a raised or lowered position, therespective positions either preventing a patient from falling out of thebed or allowing the patient to enter or exit the bed 10.

As seen if FIG. 3, the bed 10 has a mattress receiving surface 31 uponwhich the mattress rests when placed on the bed frame. This surface canbe any type of surface that provides support for the mattress 11.Referring to FIG. 1-3, mattress 11 sits on top of mattress receivingsurface 31 between a headboard 18 and a footboard 17, although bed 10may be provided without either or both the headboard or the footboard.The side rails 13 when raised are positioned on opposite sides of themattress 11, such that mattress 11 sits between the opposite side rails.

Mattress 11 has bilateral raised sides 16. These raised sides/bolsters16 extend above a non-raised surface of the mattress by between 1-6inches, for example 2 inches. The raised sides 16 thus provide aboundary on opposite sides of the mattress serving as a passive reminderto the patient as to the lateral extent of the mattress. The raisedsides 16 abut the lateral edge of the central portion 19 (the centralportion 19 being shown in FIG. 1 as extending between the two raisedsides 16 with the letter “w”), or non-raised portion of the mattress,and extend laterally beyond the lateral edge of the central portion bybetween 1-5 inches, for example 4.5 inches. In some embodiments, theraised sides 16 are constructed of materials such that the patientnotices, in addition to the change in height, a change in firmness (i.e.density and ILD) of the raised sides. The firmness, although typicallygreater, can be either greater or less than the firmness of the centralportion 19 of the mattress, providing a passive reminder, along with theheight difference, to the patient of the proximity of a lateral edge ofthe mattress. Each raised side 16 has a cutout section 15 such that theheight of the upper surface of cutout section 15 is diminished from theheight of the top surface of the remainder of the raised side. In someembodiments, the height of the cutout section 15 is essentially the sameas the height of the surface of contiguous non-raised or central portion19 of the mattress. Although the height of the cutout section 16 issimilar to the non-raised portions of the mattress, the firmness isessentially the same as the remainder of the raised sides 16 such thatthe patient is still alerted to the approach of the lateral edge of themattress 11.

As can be seen in FIG. 1-2, the cutout section 15 can be alternativelyplaced, during production, in any position between the head and foot ofthe mattress 11. In some embodiments as shown in FIG. 1, the cutoutsection is placed in a central position of the mattress, such that thecutout section 15 is essentially between the upper and lower side railsallowing the patient ingress and egress to the mattress area when one orboth of the side rails on a side are in the raised position, if thepositioning of the side rails on the bed frame allows enough space topermit the patient to get into and out of the bed. Even if the siderails 13 do not permit the patient to get into and out of the bed whenthe side rails are in the raised position, the cut out section 15 can bepositioned in a position that allows the patient easier ingress andegress from the mattress when the side rails are down.

In other embodiments as shown in FIG. 2, the cutout section 15 can beplaced in a position corresponding to the position of one or morecontrol panels on the side rails. When the cutout section 15 is in thisposition, the patient can access the controls with the side rails in theraised position. One or both upper side rails may have controls that canbe accessed by the patient through the cutout sections on opposite sidesof the mattress, for example one side may have controls for the bed tochange the bed position, and the other side may have controls for an inroom television. In other embodiments, the cutout section 15 ispositioned such that a caregiver has better access to one or more areasof the patient's body.

The length “l” of cutout section 15 (see FIG. 1) can vary in the rangeof about 12 to 24 inches, for example 18 inches. The length may be ofsuch dimensions as to allow a person to enter and exit the bed or, ifpositioned for control panel access, to allow access to the controlpanels.

Depending on the bed frame, raised sides 16 can also be configured(height and firmness) to help ameliorate potential entrapment areas ofthe bed 10. For example, the raised sides 16 can be configured to makeaccess the area between the side rails 13 and the mattress moredifficult. Moreover, the bed 10 can be used with the side rails down forsome patients because raised sides 16 serve as a passive reminder of thelateral extent of the mattress without creating possible entrapmentareas for the patient. This also removes the need for the patient toclimb over the side rails or the foot of the bed when entering orexiting the mattress at night if they cannot lower the side rails.

Mattress 11 is constructed in such a way that, in addition to the raisedsides 16 providing a passive reminder to the patient about the lateralextent of the mattress, mattress 11 provides a surface that helps toreduce the chance of a bed ridden patent developing ischemic ulcers ofthe skin. The mattress 11 has a pressure-relieving surface thatredistributes the pressure on the patient's skin reducing ischemicinjury and ulcer formation. The mattress has one or more components madeout of a foam material or similar material that are secured together,for example by gluing, and covered with a mattress cover.

The foam material can be made from polyurethane foam, memory foam,polypropylene foam or latex foam, for example polyurethane foam. Theglue can be n-propyl bromide based adhesives, water based sprayadhesives (such as Simalfa™ liquid spray adhesive), and hot melt sprayadhesives, for example hot melt spray adhesives. The foam can have adensity of between 1.4 to 4.0 pounds per cubic foot (“PCF”) of foam, andan ILD of between 10 to 50. By selecting a density and ILD of the foamcomponents, the properties of each component can tailored to aparticular part of the anatomy that the section supports. Therefore, thefoam supporting the torso can have a different density and ILD than thefoam supporting the head or the distal extremities, thus providinggreater comfort and support. The foam can be cut under certain anatomiczones, such as the ischium, heels, sacrum, shoulder, or torso ingeneral, to help protect against pressure and shearing that cancontribute to ischemic ulcers of the skin. Also, a section of themattress supporting the feet can be sloped, such that the height of themattress decreases distally, relieving pressure on the heels. Althoughdescribed as being made of a foam material, the mattress components canbe made out of any other material having similar support and pressuredistribution properties.

Referring to FIG. 4, the non-raised surface or central portion 19, whichis sandwiched between the raised sides 16 has one or more components.The components are chosen to provide a mattress surface that not onlyhelps to prevent ischemic ulcers from developing on the patient, butalso to provide a comfortable surface for the patient using the bed. Insome embodiments as shown in FIG. 4, there are four components forming acentral portion 19 of the mattress 11 in addition to a right (as seenfrom the foot of the mattress) foam side rail/bolster 43 and a left foamside rail/bolster 46 that form the raised sides 16. There is a topsection 41 that provides a uniform upper surface overlying a headsection 42, a body section 44, and a foot section 45. These sections andthe right and left side rails are secured together, for example bygluing, and covered with a cover 51 (shown in FIG. 5). The componentsare described in the following paragraphs. The dimensions and physicalproperties of the foam components described in the following paragraphsare exemplary and it should be understood that other dimensions,physical properties (such as density and ILD), and even number ofcomponents are within the scope of this disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 4, the head section 42 is twenty-seven inches inwidth, seven inches in length, and four and one-half inches in height.The head section 42 has a density of 1.8 PCF and an ILD of 33. The headsection is less firm than the body section. The body section 44 istwenty-seven inches in width, twenty-seven inches in length, and fourand one-half inches in height. The body section 44 has a density of 2.5PCF and an ILD of 45. In some embodiments, the body section has notchesor compression channels in the surface of the foam under anatomic zonesthat can help protect against pressure and shearing, for example 18notches across the width of the body section starting 2⅞ inches from thehead end of the body section and spaced every 2.75 inches. The notchescan be between ½ to 2 inches in height, for example ¾ inch in height,and between ⅛ to ¾ inches in width, for example ¼ inch. The head section42 and the body section 44 form a planar surface of 4.5 inches inheight. The foot section 45 is 27 inches in width and 7 inches in lengthand has a density of 1.8 PCF with and ILD of 33. The foot section 45 canhave either a uniform height or a tapered height in a distal direction.In some embodiments, the foot section 45 tapers in height distally from4.5 inches in height where the foot section abuts the body section 44 tothree inches in height at the distal edge of the mattress. In otherembodiments, the foot section is not tapered in height and forms aplanar surface with the head and body sections and has a uniform heightof 4.5 inches.

The head section 42 and foot section 45 are glued to the body section 44as shown in FIG. 4. The top section 41 is glued to the top surface ofthese three components presenting a seamless top surface on the centralportion 19 of the mattress 11. The top section 41 is 27 inches in widthand 80 inches in length and 2.5 inches in height. However, thedimensions of the top section can be changed if the dimensions of theunderlying components are changed, such that the top section covers theunderlying components. In some embodiments, the top section 41 is madeof viscoelastic foam and has a density of 4.0 PCF and an ILD of 10. Inother embodiments, the top section 41 is made of shaved convoluted foamand has a density of 2.5 PCF with an ILD of 27. The shaved convolutedfoam has a base thickness of 1.5 inch and a thickness of one inch in thevalley.

Again referring to FIG. 4 right side rail/bolster 43 and a left siderail/bolster 46 forming the raised sides 16 are glued to the right andleft sides, respectively, of the remaining components. Although thecomponents are described as being glued together, any method ofattachment that secures the components to one another can be used, suchas hook and loop fasteners or using interlocking cuts. The bolsters arenine inches in height and 4.5 inches in width and 80 inches in length.In some embodiments the bolsters are rectangular in height and width. Inother embodiments, the portion of the side rails 43, 46 extending abovethe upper surface of the central portion 19 have a non-rectangularshape. When viewed from end on, the side bolster can be either curved(FIG. 6B) or angular (FIG. 6A) in its transition from the planar surfaceof the central portion 19 to the top surface of the side bolster 16. Thecutout section can be positioned in a desired location on the sidebolsters 16 corresponding to the controls on the bed frame sides rails,or corresponding to a location making ingress and egress easier, or aposition making access to a certain parts of the patient easier. Thebolsters have a density of 1.8 PCF per cubic foot and an ILD of 50. Thecutout section has a similar density and ILD. The increased height andILD of the bolster serves to remind the patient that the lateral edge ofthe mattress is approaching. In other embodiments, the dimensions,density, and ILD of the side rails 43, 46 can be altered as long as theside rails provide the passive reminder of the lateral extent of themattress.

Referring to FIG. 5, once the components are assembled into a singlemattress unit, a mattress cover 51 is applied. In some embodiments, themattress cover 51 covers at least the upper surface of the mattressassembly. In other embodiments, the mattress cover 51 covers the entiresurface of the mattress assembly. For example, the mattress cover 51 canhave a top section 54 and a bottom section 55. The top section 51 fitsover the top surface of the mattress 11 and the bottom section 55 fitsover the bottom surface to mattress 11. The top and bottom sections 54,55 extend over the sides of the mattress 11 and are fixedly engaged withone another. This engagement can be permanent, for example by using glueor by sowing the edges together, or temporary, for example by using hookand loop fasteners or, as shown in FIG. 5, a zipper 56. In someembodiments the top and bottom sections are made out of the samematerial such as neoprene/butyl rubber coated nylon. In otherembodiments, the top and bottom sections 54, 55 are made of differentmaterials, for example the material of the top section can be selectedto reduce staining, i.e. moisture and vapor transmission, and tofacilitate cleaning and disinfecting, for example butyl rubber coatednylon or cast-coated polyurethane or polyester blend, while the bottomsection can be made from a material that keeps the mattress 11 fromsliding on the mattress receiving surface 31, such as 8-12 ounce vinyl,for example 10 once vinyl, or a reverse grip institutional healthcarefabric, such as SOFFTICK™.

The size and shape of mattresses 11 and the components can be customizedto fit the wide variety of hospital bed frames currently manufactured.The assembled mattress is placed upon the mattress supporting surface 31of the hospital bed frame. Thus, a hospital bed with the mattress havinga raised foam perimeter containing a cutout section that can provideaccess to controls on the side rails of the bed frame, or access for thepatient to the mattress, and/or access to the patient for the caregiveris provided.

A number of embodiments of the invention have been described.Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the followingclaims.

1. A medical bed comprising: a frame having a mattress support surface;and a mattress supported on the support surface, the mattresscomprising: a central portion having an upper surface adapted to supporta patient's body, and a lower surface interfacing with the supportsurface of the frame; a right and left side bolster disposed on oppositesides of the central portion, each bolster extending above the uppersurface, wherein each bolster defines a recess of reduced bolster heightin relation to the upper surface of the central portion of the mattress;a plurality of channels in the upper surface extending between theopposite sides of the central portion; a mattress cover extending aboutthe central portion and both bolsters, such that the mattress and covertogether form a single mattress assembly; a side rail mounted on theframe; and a control panel mounted on the side rail; wherein the recessis positioned to enable the patient to access the control panel.
 2. Themedical bed according to claim 1 further comprising: a side rail mountedon the frame; and a control panel mounted on the side rail; wherein therecess is positioned to enable the patient to access the control panel.3. The medical bed according to claim 1, wherein the recess is sized andpositioned to enable patient ingress and egress to and from the uppersurface.
 4. The medical bed according to claim 1, wherein the centralportion and the bolsters are formed of foam, and wherein the channelsare approximately 0.25 inches wide and 0.75 inches high.
 5. The medicalbed according to claim 4, wherein the central portion comprises a headsection, a body section, a foot section, and a top section that coversthe head, body and foot sections.
 6. The medical bed according to claim5, wherein the foam for each section has a shape, a density, and an ILDselected to inhibit formation of pressure sores on the skin of thepatient.
 7. The medical bed according to claim 4, wherein the foam foreach bolster has a shape, a density, and an ILD selected to provide apassive reminder to the patient of a lateral edge of the mattress. 8.The medical bed according to claim 7, wherein the density of the foambolsters is 1.8 PCF and the ILD is
 50. 9. The medical bed according toclaim 5, wherein the foot section has a thickness that decreases withdistance from the body section.
 10. The medical bed according to claim1, wherein the left and right bolsters have upper surfaces flush withthe upper surface of the central portion at the recesses.
 11. A mattressdesigned for use in conjunction with a medical/surgical bed frame havinga surface for receiving the mattress and having one or more side railscontaining a bed control panel, the mattress comprising: a centralportion having a upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the uppersurface is adapted to support a patient's body and the lower surface isadapted to interface with the mattress receiving surface of the bedframe; a plurality of channels in the upper surface extending betweenthe opposite sides of the central portion; a right and left side bolsterdisposed on opposite sides of the central portion, each bolsterextending above the upper surface, wherein each bolster defines a recessof reduced bolster height and wherein the recess is positioned to enablethe patient to access the control panel; and a mattress cover extendingabout the central portion and both bolsters, such that the mattress andcover together form a single mattress assembly.
 12. The mattressaccording to claim 11, wherein the recess is positioned to enable thepatient to access the control panel.
 13. The mattress according to claim11, wherein the recess is sized and positioned to enable patient ingressand egress to and from the upper surface.
 14. The mattress according toclaim 11, wherein the central portion and bolsters are formed of foam,and wherein the channels are approximately 0.25 inches wide and 0.75inches high.
 15. The mattress according to claim 11, wherein the centralportion comprises a head section, a body section, a foot section and atop section that covers the head, body, and foot sections.
 16. Themattress according to claim 15, wherein the foam for each section has ashape, a density, and an ILD selected to inhibit formation of pressuresores on the skin of the patient.
 17. The mattress according to claim11, wherein the foam for each bolster has a shape, a density, and an ILDselected to provide a passive reminder to the patient of the lateraledge of the mattress.
 18. The mattress according to claim 17, whereinthe density of the foam bolsters is 1.8 PCF and the ILD is
 50. 19. Themattress according to claim 15, wherein the foot section has a heightthat decreases as the distance from the body section increases.
 20. Amethod of supporting a patient, the method comprising: equipping ahospital bed with a mattress comprising: a central portion having a topsurface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface resting on a mattressreceiving surface of a frame of the bed; a right and a left side bolsterdisposed on opposite sides of the central portion between side rails ofthe bed, each bolster extending above the top surface, each bolsterdefining a recess of reduced bolster height, at least one of therecesses positioned to provide access to a side rail-mounted bed controlpanel from the mattress; a plurality of channels in the upper surfaceextending between the opposite sides of the central portion; and amattress cover extending about the central portion and both bolsters,such that the mattress and cover together form a single mattressassembly; and placing a patient on the central portion of the mattress,between the bolsters.